Soccer Insider: August 30, 2009 - September 5, 2009

Matchnight #24: United at FC Dallas

Hello all from Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Tex. It's my first trip out here to the Dallas area, I've DVR'd the U.S. qualifier, and I must say I'm impressed with the stadium and the quaint, cozy feel of the immediate surrounding area. I dunno, it strikes me as a...

By Paul Tenorio  |  September 5, 2009; 6:04 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (49)
Categories:  D.C. United , MLS  
Save & Share:                   

WCQ Matchnight: USA-El Salvador

Greetings from Rio Tinto, the neat little stadium with the breathtaking view of the Wasatch Front. Warm, cloudy, breezy with a slight risk of rain. Salvadoran and USA supporters mixing in the adjacent parking lot, including the omnipresent Captain America superfan (whom I met at my hotel in Costa Rica...

By Steve Goff  |  September 5, 2009; 5:49 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (160)
Categories:  2010 World Cup , CONCACAF , U.S. men's national team  
Save & Share:                   

Early Saturday Kickaround

*My feature about USA defender Jonathan Spector, who witnessed the scene inside and outside Upton Park last week when West Ham and Millwall supporters mixed it up. *Paul Tenorio's story about D.C. United's delicate state heading into Saturday night's match at FC Dallas. *Coverage of Maryland's 2-0 loss to UCLA...

By Steve Goff  |  September 5, 2009; 6:14 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (35)
Categories:  2010 World Cup , College Soccer , D.C. United , MLS , TV , U.S. men's national team  
Save & Share:                   

USA News & Notes

Greetings from Rio Tinto at Sandy. Jay DeMerit (groin) is almost certainly out tomorrow. Carlos Bocanegra says he expects to play in the middle -- no surprise. Conor Casey, who had a wisdom tooth extracted this week, will not join the team here and instead play for the Rapids tomorrow....

By Steve Goff  |  September 4, 2009; 8:30 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (16)
Categories:  2010 World Cup , U.S. men's national team  
Save & Share:                   

Jakovic Sidelined

D.C. United central back Dejan Jakovic will be examined in Germany for a suspected bilateral sports hernia, the club announced. He was not going to play Saturday at Dallas anyway because of a yellow card suspension, but an operation, which is almost certain, would sideline him two to three weeks....

By Steve Goff  |  September 4, 2009; 6:44 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (49)
Categories:  D.C. United  
Save & Share:                   

USA News, Notes & Poll

Greetings from Park City, the mountain village 35 miles from Salt Lake City where the USA squad has been based all week. The team will train at Rio Tinto Stadium later today, its final preparations before Saturday night's World Cup qualifier against El Salvador (8 p.m. ET, ESPN Classic, Telefutura)....

By Steve Goff  |  September 4, 2009; 2:52 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (37)
Categories:  2010 World Cup , Poll , U.S. men's national team  
Save & Share:                   

Friday Kickaround

*Gotta Love English tabloid The Sun: "You're A Bunch of Thieves" *Fox Soccer Channel, which won the Euro Champions League rights from ESPN, has announced its schedule for the first few matchdays of group play: Sept. 15: Marseille-AC Milan, 2:45 p.m. ET Sept. 16: Liverpool-Debreceni (Hungary), 2:45 Sept. 29: Glasgow...

By Steve Goff  |  September 4, 2009; 8:15 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (74)
Categories:  College Soccer , England , Euro Champions League , TV , U.S. men's national team , USL  
Save & Share:                   

Weekend TV Listings

What are you going to watch? FRIDAY USL-1, Minnesota-Vancouver 8 p.m. ET Fox Soccer Channel Mexico, Tecos-Santos Laguna 9 p.m. Galavision NCAA men, Bradley-Memphis 11 p.m. FSC SATURDAY World Cup qualifier, Scotland-Macedonia 10 a.m. GolTV Friendly, England-Slovenia 12:30 p.m. FSC...

By Steve Goff  |  September 4, 2009; 12:12 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (32)
Categories:  TV  
Save & Share:                   

United Statement on Wicks - UPDATED

D.C. United just released a statement regarding goalkeeper Josh Wicks' actions last night in United's 2-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders in the U.S. Open Cup final. Wicks stomp of Seattle forward Fredy Montero led to his ejection from the match in the 69th minute, reducing United to 10 men...

By Paul Tenorio  |  September 3, 2009; 4:29 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (132)
Categories:  D.C. United  
Save & Share:                   

Lots of Reflection at RFK

Hey guys, with Goff on his way to Salt Lake City, I headed over to RFK today to get to work on previewing Saturday's game at Dallas. Thought I'd give you some stuff real quick: First, Josh Wicks reflecting on last night's bizarre and unnecessary stomp and ejection. Then, after...

By Paul Tenorio  |  September 3, 2009; 2:10 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (101)
Categories:  D.C. United  
Save & Share:                   

Thursday Kickaround

*Following the path of an increasing number of American players, Chicago Fire forward Chris Rolfe is off to Denmark after this MLS season. *Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller, commenting in the Seattle Times on the crowd at RFK: "I was giving [DCU President] Kevin Payne a little shtick, saying this is...

By Steve Goff  |  September 3, 2009; 9:06 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (156)
Categories:  College Soccer , D.C. United , MLS , U.S. Open Cup  
Save & Share:                   

United Rewind

What to make of Josh Wicks..... The guy was superb for 67 minutes. If player ratings were to be submitted at that point, he might've received an "8" or "9". But then he appeared to step/stomp/hop/skip/bounce on Fredy Montero when he had no reason to be anywhere near the Seattle...

By Steve Goff  |  September 3, 2009; 12:58 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (150)
Categories:  D.C. United , U.S. Open Cup  
Save & Share:                   

Hamid's Signing With DCU

D.C. United's newest player is Bill Hamid, an 18-year-old goalkeeper from Annandale, Va., who came through the club's youth academy. He is 6 feet 3 and 225 pounds. He'll wear No. 28. A work permit issue prevented him from signing with Glasgow Celtic last year, and after weighing overseas options...

By Steve Goff  |  September 2, 2009; 10:20 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (24)
Categories:  D.C. United  
Save & Share:                   

Open Cup: United-Sounders

Greetings from RFK. Hey, there's a trophy at stake tonight! Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. TV: Fox Soccer Channel. Announcers: Max Bretos and Brian Dunseth. DCU formally introduced Bill Hamid, an 18-year-old goalkeeper, as its first youth academy signing. Hamid will not be eligible to play in MLS matches this year but...

By Steve Goff  |  September 2, 2009; 6:31 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (291)
Categories:  D.C. United , U.S. Open Cup  
Save & Share:                   

RFK, Courts, Signing, TV

*The USSF announced today that tickets to the USA-Costa Rica World Cup qualifier Oct. 14 at RFK Stadium will go on sale next week. Prices begin at $35. The general public can make purchases starting Sept. 10 through Ticketmaster and the USSF Web site. Visa credit card holders can buy...

By Steve Goff  |  September 2, 2009; 3:54 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (17)
Categories:  D.C. United , MLS , Misc. , TV , U.S. men's national team  
Save & Share:                   

Wednesday Kickaround

*U.S. Open Cup final. Tonight. RFK. 7:30. Fox Soccer Channel. Read my story about how off-field actions have heightened awareness of the match. *Although this will be the Sounders' first visit to RFK in their inaugural MLS season, goalkeeper Kasey Keller is no stranger to the Wreck on the Anacostia....

By Steve Goff  |  September 2, 2009; 8:43 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (93)
Categories:  College Soccer , D.C. United , FIFA , MLS , U.S. Open Cup , U.S. men's national team , Women  
Save & Share:                   

3 MLS Refs Done for Season

Three veteran referees, including 2008 MLS referee of the year Jair Marrufo, will not be assigned to any more MLS matches this season, the Insider has learned. Marrufo was removed from the assignment rotation for "poor performances" over the course of the season, according to the U.S. Soccer Federation, which...

By Steve Goff  |  September 1, 2009; 8:33 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (65)
Categories:  MLS , USSF  
Save & Share:                   

Poll: U.S. Open Cup Final

With one day until the championship game, I have to ask..... poll by twiigs.com...

By Steve Goff  |  September 1, 2009; 1:28 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (65)
Categories:  D.C. United , Poll , U.S. Open Cup  
Save & Share:                   

D.C. United News & Notes

*Luciano Emilio update: The Brazilian striker is, indeed, classified as a green card holder for the U.S. Open Cup final and won't count against the limit of five foreign players on the 18-man game-day roster Wednesday night at RFK Stadium. *Bill Hamid update: The 18-year-old goalkeeper, who is the first...

By Steve Goff  |  September 1, 2009; 11:45 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (46)
Categories:  D.C. United , U.S. Open Cup  
Save & Share:                   

Early Tuesday Kickaround

*Little-known fact about the U.S. Open Cup: Only five foreign players are permitted on the 18-man game-day roster. What does that mean for D.C. United in Wednesday night's championship game against Seattle at RFK Stadium? According to the club, the foreign service is Fred, Gomez, Habarugira, Jakovic, James, Khumalo, Kocic...

By Steve Goff  |  September 1, 2009; 12:06 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (63)
Categories:  2010 World Cup , Americans Abroad , CONCACAF , D.C. United , U.S. Open Cup  
Save & Share:                   

Adu Loaned to Belenenses

A contact close to Freddy Adu tells the Insider that, about 45 minutes ago, a loan deal was reached for him to play at Portuguese club Belenenses this season. Today is the final day of the summer transfer window. Adu was on the verge of joining Danish club Odense on...

By Steve Goff  |  August 31, 2009; 1:45 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (58)
Categories:  U.S. men's national team  
Save & Share:                   

On a Mexican Video

Edgar Castillo, future USA national team candidate, scores on a superb strike during Tigres' 2-2 tie with Santos Laguna. The USSF seems set to have him in training camp before the October qualifiers. Watch the golazo at the 2:10 mark -- "Ca-ca-ca-ca-Castillo!": America clobbers Toluca, 7-2, with the sixth goal...

By Steve Goff  |  August 31, 2009; 9:39 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (36)
Categories:  Mexico , U.S. men's national team  
Save & Share:                   

MLS Playoff Race

EASTERN CONFERENCE AUTOMATIC BERTHS Columbus 10-4-9, 39 points Chicago 10-6-8, 38 WESTERN CONFERENCE AUTOMATIC BERTHS Houston 11-7-7, 40 points Los Angeles 9-4-11, 38 AT-LARGE BERTHS Seattle 8-6-10, 34 points New England 9-6-6, 33 Colorado 9-7-6, 33 Chivas USA 10-9-3, 33 ---------- Real Salt Lake 9-9-6, 33 D.C. United 7-5-11, 32...

By Steve Goff  |  August 31, 2009; 6:01 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (22)
Categories:  MLS  
Save & Share:                   

Americans Abroad

GOALKEEPERS Tim Howard 90 in Everton's 2-1 win over Wigan Brad Friedel 90 in Aston Villa's 2-0 win over Fulham Troy Perkins 90 in Valerenga's 2-1 win over Molde Marcus Hahnemann in 18, didn't play in Wolves' 1-1 tie with Hull City David Yelldell 90 in Koblenz's 2-0 loss to...

By Steve Goff  |  August 30, 2009; 4:38 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (34)
Categories:  Americans Abroad  
Save & Share:                   

Video: Wicks-Burch Moment

By Steve Goff  |  August 30, 2009; 9:34 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (36)
Categories:  D.C. United  
Save & Share:                   

United Rewind

There's still some fight left in D.C. United, after all -- in more ways than one. Josh Wicks freaks out on Marc Burch during a brief stoppage, Burch retaliates. Teammates intervene. All the while, Chicago is scrambling to take a corner kick and try to score the equalizer. Can't say...

By Steve Goff  |  August 30, 2009; 12:47 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (40)
Categories:  D.C. United  
Save & Share: